Predictions: Colorado and Utah

[Longhorned]

What are you expecting? I expect 2-0.

For overall reasons that actually I don't like, I feel good about this home stand in particular. The coaching staff is having difficulties with this year's team losing focus with teams it's supposed to beat. Anyone who watches the press conference knows that the distractions (calendar, NBA, quality of opponent) get the best of this team, that poor performances motivate them back onto the right track for maybe 1-2 games maximum, and then you'd better be playing a Gonzaga or a Utah if you want to see this team's focus even on fundamentals when shots aren't going down. We've seen this just last year with Kentucky, but certainly not with last year's Arizona. Hang the completely unfounded anti-Miller sentiment -- this lack of focus falls squarely on the players. Not in terms of fault, but in terms of ability to learn what the coaching staff is clearly conveying to them.

I've toyed with the idea that Ashley's defensive limitations were concealed by Gordon's switching last season, and that Ashley simply isn't quick enough to guard many opposing 4's (and hence he's essentially an out-of-position 5 on the defensive end). I'm going to hold off on that conclusion because Miller seems to be expressing some perspective on the waxing and waning of Ashley's defensive effort going back to his freshman year. I have little doubt that he's the weakest link defensively on the team, but by the numbers (AdjD and totals that opponents are scoring), this team is a damn good defensive team overall that's finding several ways to lose on offense.

- Everybody needs to play harder on defense

- Stanley Johnson needs significantly more shot attempts

- Gabe York needs better looks, and hence significantly fewer shot attempts

- Tarc needs to grab a few boards in addition to creating space for his teammates to rebound

Those things and more seem to go well after poor performances and against high-quality opponents, which is why I see Arizona bounce back against Colorado and Utah.

[Olsondogg]

Good post, but I can hear York laughing all the way from Tucson at your comment about weakest defender.

My guess is we will be talking about Millers latest presser at the end of the year, for all the right reasons

[PieceOfMeat]

I think we go 2-0 because we're at home and Utah isn't the same team on the road against decent teams as they are at their own place.

I expect to beat rado by 10+ and to beat utah by less than 10. Maybe 5 or 7 points, something like that.

[Chicat]

I like us to sweep as well. Utah isn't sneaking up on anyone.

[ASUHATER!]

Beat Colorado. Possibly a good chance of a Utah loss. They should probably be favored.

[Machina]

Beat Colorado. Possibly a good chance of a Utah loss. They should probably be favored.

This post seems to indicate you do not know how sports or vegas work.

Or are you purposely trying to be....

[KaibabKat]

Oregon State:10-3 ATS
Utah: 11-3 ATS

Arizona: 7-7 ATS

Place your bets.

[Lofty]

Utah is damn good and road tested. Could lose that one and it wouldn't be surprising. BEAR DOWN and get the sweep!

[Merkin]

Utah is #5 on Kenpom.

Only losses to SDSU and KU by 4 and 3. Beat UNLV by 13.

[Alieberman]

TJ will not lose a home game as a Wildcat

[Budd1e_lee]

Already posted this in another thread...

Message appears to have been heard against Colorado. Come out flat against Utah while ultimately winning despite shaky FT shooting down the stretch. Same as it ever was.

[Bruins01]

Beat Colorado. Possibly a good chance of a Utah loss. They should probably be favored.

This post seems to indicate you do not know how sports or vegas work.

Or are you purposely trying to be....

I see Machina hasn't gotten any smarter since we all left TOS.

[gumby]

Buffs could be short-handed. Probably hobbled.

http://www.buffzone.com/ci_27321596

Johnson and Scott.

Buffs haven't beaten a Top 10 road team in 42 years. They are 0-4 this year.

Cats by 16.

[UAEebs86]

Buffs could be short-handed. Probably hobbled.

http://www.buffzone.com/ci_27321596

Johnson and Scott.

Buffs haven't beaten a Top 10 road team in 42 years. They are 0-4 this year.

Cats by 16.

I posted in the game thread that they are out:

[Budd1e_lee]

Already posted this in another thread...

Message appears to have been heard against Colorado. Come out flat against Utah while ultimately winning despite shaky FT shooting down the stretch. Same as it ever was.

It didn't even appear they got the message. Missing two starters Colorado was allowed to hang around far too long, even while anybody not named Askia Booker couldn't find any points or hang onto the ball. I'm less optimistic about Saturday. Thinks arizona loses by 7

[ASUHATER!]

Utah should crush us Saturday

[PieceOfMeat]

I think we go 2-0 because we're at home and Utah isn't the same team on the road against decent teams as they are at their own place.

I expect to beat rado by 10+ and to beat utah by less than 10. Maybe 5 or 7 points, something like that.

Though I'll admit the rado game didn't exactly go as I thought it would, it was still a 10+ point win. Though honestly if one had told me they'd be down 2 starters before I made my prediction, I'd have expected to win by more than we did. Not a confidence booster.

That said, I'm still sticking with my expectation of beating utah by 5 to 7 points, something like that, but under 10.

[AZCatGirl]

If this doesn't motivate them, I don't know what will.

[Olsondogg]

We play better on Saturday. Win by more. Wow.

[Longhorned]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Do you think Arizona can keep it within 20?

[gumby]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Dude ...

[UAEebs86]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Reverse jinx or honest opinion?

[Budd1e_lee]

If this doesn't motivate them, I don't know what will.

I don't know what will.

[Merkin]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... l/24966155

Second-best game of the day -- Utah at Arizona (-4); 7 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network: After playing on Thursday night, both Arizona and Utah have just 48 hours to prepare for one of the biggest games of the year in the Pac-12. The Wildcats' 31-game home winning streak will be put to the test against a Utes team that has won four Pac-12 games by an average of 24.5 points. Delon Wright has been great recently, including a 21-point performance in an easy win against Arizona State on Thursday. But while Wright is the unquestioned leader of Utah's surge to into the Top 10, it is tough to know who Arizona will turn to to make a basket if this game is tight, as we expect, in the second half. Freshman Stanley Johnson has 22 against Colorado, but this is balanced Wildcats attack that still relies on that stifling Sean Miller defense. If you are looking for an X-factor in this Pac-12 showdown, I'll nominate the Arizona bigs (Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley, in particular) and the battle on the boards.

[threenumberones]

Utah should crush us Saturday

We've been playing to our competition all year, not sure that should change now. The game will be close.

[Chicat]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Myron Medcalf just predicted Arizona to win, so you're probably right...

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... ts-swagger

[az91]

If this doesn't motivate them, I don't know what will.

I don't know what will.

I heard the interview on the radio. Miller sounded like he believed it himself. Given how poorly we have played since the trip to El Paso, I am inclined to agree with him.

[Longhorned]

If this doesn't motivate them, I don't know what will.

I don't know what will.

I heard the interview on the radio. Miller sounded like he believed it himself. Given how poorly we have played since the trip to El Paso, I am inclined to agree with him.

I posted this elsewhere, but the reason why Miller is so despairing and so hesitant to credit this Arizona team with anything is because his expectations for this team are through the roof. He isn't just trying to motivate his team through the media. He's sincerely as disappointed as he sounds. He's truly been venting into the microphone since three weeks ago. He knows more than anyone else in that locker room that this team will fail in the tourney if its effort level doesn't match the teams that get up to play Arizona. It's a swim upstream, against nature, and it's asking a lot of these players, but this is one desperate, boiling, vein-bursting dude. We'll never haver have a coach who wants it more than this coach, this year.

[Beachcat97]

I posted this elsewhere, but the reason why Miller is so despairing and so hesitant to credit this Arizona team with anything is because his expectations for this team are through the roof. He isn't just trying to motivate his team through the media. He's sincerely as disappointed as he sounds. He's truly been venting into the microphone since three weeks ago. He knows more than anyone else in that locker room that this team will fail in the tourney if its effort level doesn't match the teams that get up to play Arizona. It's a swim upstream, against nature, and it's asking a lot of these players, but this is one desperate, boiling, vein-bursting dude. We'll never haver have a coach who wants it more than this coach, this year.

I agree, Longhorned. Entirely. But "wanting it" will only take you so far. Can Miller get his guys to buy in and reach their full potential by March? That's the ultimate question. I don't think we'll win tomorrow, but a loss to Utah only means we're probably not winning the Pac. Miller has Pac titles already. He needs a FF.

[pc in NM]

I think Arizona should beat Utah...

... but, I'll take the Utes and the 4 points for cash.

[gumby]

Coach Larry K is also playing the underdog card.

http://www.sltrib.com/home/2066071-155/ ... owiak-sean

[PHXCATS]

Think the game and opportunity will be too big for Utah. Can see a similar game to Colorado where we go on a run they Utah does then repeat then we go on one at the start of the second that Utah cannot answer.

Wildcats 67
Utah 58

[EastCoastCat]

I like that Utah plays man-to-man exclusively this year so I expect a lot more from the offense tonight.

[Olsondogg]

We play better on Saturday. Win by more. Wow.

Y'all should listen to this guy.

[TheBlackLodge]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Never go full retard.

[Bangkok Wildcat]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Never go full retard.

+1....Post Of the Day

[Longhorned]

Utah should crush us Saturday

Do you think Arizona can keep it within 20?

Yes, but barely.

Never go full retard.

[PieceOfMeat]

lovely to get the sweep as expected, even lovelier to do it by beating down utah.